Bond set at $1 million for court no-show

DOBSON — Surry County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge A. Moses Massey issued an order for arrest with a $1 million dollar minimum secured bond for a Mount Airy man who failed to appear in court on felony hit-and-run and death-by-vehicle charges.

Walter Columbus Simmons, 49, of Reely Cook Road, was charged with felony hit and run causing serious injury or death, aggravated felony death by vehicle, habitual felon, driving while impaired, driving while license revoked and driving left of center following an Oct. 6, 2012, accident.

The case had been scheduled for trial during the May term of Surry County Superior Court.

Odell France was killed in the accident, according to Assistant District Attorney Tim Watson, who told the judge that Simmons’ 10 prior DWI convictions were cause for concern as are his pending motor vehicle violations filed as recently as January, which indicated that the defendant was “still driving.”

An existing $100,000 bond was forfeited when the new order for arrest was issued.